Can-opener



UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE.

WILLIAM YERDON, OF FORT PLAIN, NEW YORK.

CAN-OPEN ER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 498,346, dated May 30, 1893.

Application filed January 24, 1893. Serial No. 459,516. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM YERDON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Fort Plain,in the county of Montgomery and State of New York, have invented anew and useful Gan-0pener, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to can openers, and has. for its object to provide means to prevent the inward out of the blade toward the center of the can or box being opened, and hold the same adjacent to the edge of the'said can or box; and with this object in view the invention consists of the construction and arrangement of the parts as will be more fully hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective View of a can, showing the improved canopener applied thereto in operative position. Fig. 2 is a similar view of the can-opener on a larger scale. Fig. 3 is a similar view of the plate that is applied to the can or box. Fig- 4 is an elevation of the knife and handle. Fig. 5 is an elevation showing the blade in side View.

Similar numerals of referenceindicate corresponding parts in the several figures of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates a plate of segmental form, having a segmental slot 2 therein, and rising on opposite sides of said slot are cars 3, having openings therein, and between which is mounted a cutting-blade 4, that is held by a pivot-pin 5 passing therethrough and through the said ears. The said cutting-blade 4 is curved throughout its length to form a proper cutting-edge, and is deflected laterally and curved to conform to the shape of the slot 2 in which it moves, and is supplied with a handle 6 by which the same is operated. In rear of the ears 3, and extending vertically from the upper surface of the plate 1, is a lug 7,

that prevents the knife from entirely being forced out from under the top of the can while in operation by reason of the fact that the handle 6 will be forced thereagainst when depressed far enough, and farther downward movement thereof will be prevented. Depending from the outer edge of the plate 1, adjacent to the opposite ends thereof, are lugs 8 that act in the capacity of guides and limiting stops to prevent the said plate, through the action of the knife, being drawn inward over the surface of the can or box beyond a predetermined distance, and thereby form a straight out adjacent to the edge of the can or box top. At the rear or heel portion of the plate 1 a series of transversely extending serrations 9 are formed which it will be observed, are near the point of greatest applied power and prevent backward movement or slipping of the plate during the operation of cutting with the blade 4.

By the use of the device herein set forth a can or box may be opened cleanly by having the inside edge of the slot 2, which is square, to act as a shear with a portion of the blade 4, thereby cutting close to the outside of the can or box and leaving no rough edge to catch the contents of the can or box when emptied. The slot 2 is also of sufficient width to allow the part of the top being cut, remaining near the edge of the can, to be turned up or out by the operation of the blade, and also preventing the formation of an obstructing edge. It will also be noticed that there is sufficient space for the blade to work in and permit the top of the can to turn up so that the blade will not bind and make the operation of the can-opener hard and difficult.

The device is simple and effective in its construction and operation, strong and durable, and easily operated.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is- In a can-opener, the combination of a curved plate having a segmental slot therein parallel with the opposite edges thereof, depending lugs at the outer edge of the bottom of the same near its opposite ends that are adapted to bear against the outer surface of the de-.

vice being .opened to prevent cutting inwardly, a guard-1n g projecting upwardly from the rear portion of the upper surface thereof, and a pair of ears in advance of the said guard-lug, the rear portion of the under side of the plate being formed with a series of transverse serrations to engage the upper surface of the device being opened to prevent slipping of the plate, and a curved deflected knife or blade pivotally mounted between the said ears and moving through the curved slot In testimony that I claim the foregoing es of the plate, the said knife or blade havinge my own I have hereto affixed my signature 1n handle for operating the same that is adapted presence of two witnesses.

to contact with the said guard-lugto prevent WILLIAM YE RDON. 5 the knife or blade from being forced out of \Vitnesses:

the cut in the device being opened, snbstan- HERBERT L. RICKARD,

tially as described. ALBERT SITTERLY. 

